A borough shaped by industry and housing
Barking began as a riverside settlement around Barking Abbey, founded in the seventh century and once one of the most important nunneries in England. Today the abbey survives as low ruins beside St Margaret's Church, a short walk from Barking town centre, and makes a quiet first stop for anyone interested in early London.
Dagenham's story is twentieth century. The Becontree Estate, built between the 1920s and 1930s, was one of the largest public housing projects in the world, and the Ford works on the Thames brought tens of thousands of jobs. Vehicle assembly ended in 2002, but the plant and the estate still define the character of much of the borough.
Places worth knowing
- Eastbury Manor House – a well-preserved Elizabethan brick manor in Barking, cared for by the National Trust and run with the council.
- Valence House Museum – the borough's local history museum, set in a partly moated manor house in Becontree.
- Eastbrookend Country Park and the Chase Nature Reserve – former gravel workings turned into meadows, lakes and wildlife habitats.
- Barking Riverside – a new waterside district with its own London Overground station, opened in 2022.
Getting in and out
Barking station is the borough's main hub, with District and Hammersmith & City line services, c2c trains towards Fenchurch Street and Essex, and the Overground. Dagenham Heathway and Dagenham East are on the District line. By road, the A13 is the main artery towards Canary Wharf and the City, and the A406 North Circular links to the north and west.
Airport transfers from Barking and Dagenham
London City Airport is the closest airport and usually the quickest door-to-door option along the A13. Stansted is well placed via the A406 and M11, while journeys to Heathrow and Gatwick are longer and more dependent on traffic on the North or South Circular and the M25. For early-morning departures, building in extra time around the A13 and Lodge Avenue junctions is sensible during the morning peak.
See our London City Airport transfers and Stansted Airport transfers for more detail.
Pickup tips for this borough
New-build streets at Barking Riverside and in regeneration areas are not always recognised correctly by older sat-nav data, so a full postcode and a building or block name help the driver find you first time. For family trips to Eastbury Manor or Valence House, child seats can be fitted in advance if you request them when booking.
Frequently asked questions
What is Barking and Dagenham best known for?
Barking Abbey's Saxon origins, the Ford Dagenham works and the vast Becontree Estate, along with Eastbury Manor House and the new Barking Riverside development.
Which airport is nearest to Barking?
London City Airport is the nearest, normally reached along the A13. Stansted is the next most practical option for northbound departures.
Can you collect from Barking Riverside?
Yes. Please give the full postcode and block or building name, as some newer streets are still missing from older navigation maps.